Melodies Of Betrayal: The Toxic Encore ✓

Chapter 13: Numb

Chapter 13: Numb

MAL made her way towards the bedroom she shared with her boyfriend, the tray of food still attached tightly to her hand. She struggled to unlock the door with her free hand and carrying the tray with the other, but managed to open the door nonetheless. Peeking her head inside, she was met by the sight of her lover laying motionlessly on his side of the bed. A frown spread itself across her face as she made her way inside, quietly shutting the door behind her.

After setting the tray on the nearby nightstand, she stepped closer towards the bed and took a long glance at her lover.

"Sweetheart..."

Her fingers ran themselves through his soft, black locks, and her other hand rubbed invisible circles against his pale face.

"Baby, it's time to eat something."

She continued to tap her finger against his cheek in order to grab his attention while trying to gulp away the lump in her throat.

"Baby... Come on, it's time to wake up."

After a few taps and multiple tries to wake him up, Junwon's eyes fluttered open. Barely enough to take a full glance at her.

"Baby, how are you feeling?" She asked, still tapping his cheek.

His eyes rolled back against his head while he struggled to open his mouth to reply. A small groan escaped his mouth and his fingers shifted and barely moved to show that he was conscious.

Barely.

"Junwon, sweetheart, please..." She spoke in a desperate voice, her vision blurring with tears. "You need to eat something. You can't keep living like this."

Junwon's eyes shifted to the side for a brief moment before they closed again, and Mal assumed that he was probably sensitive to all the light inside the room.

Another small, soft groan escaped his mouth while his desperate eyes attempted to glance at his tear-stricken lover.

"How are you feeling, sweetheart?" She asked in a whisper, her face inches away from his. "Is your stomach still hurting?"

He struggled to nod his head, as if to tell her yes. She shut her eyes, her insides turning as she could only imagine his pain.

"Please, eat something for me." She begged, to which he could shake his head, his unfocused gaze desperate with disagreement.

"N-No... G-G-God," he whimpered, his tone shaky and his voice unsteady.

She shook her head at that, a tear finding its way down her face. A tear of pain and desperation. Her hands found his and grabbed them tightly, and despite how tear-stricken and unfocused she was, she could sense his grip barely tightening around her hand in an attempt to reassure her through her despair and heartbreak.

"Baby," she whispered, running one hand through his hair while the other gripped his hand tightly to reassure him (and herself), "I know it hurts. I have no idea what you're going through right now, but all I know is that I'm here for you. Always. I need you to be okay and healthy. I need you to eat something for me."

Junwon ignored the sound of his heart breaking in a distance as he spotted small, continuous tears running down her face after her reassuring sentences.

"I... S-Sorry." He whimpered out, his vision blurring with mutual tears. "I-I feel... Sick."

She nodded her head with sympathy, then inched her face closer to place a long, gentle kiss over his forehead.

"I know, baby. Eat something. I know you'll feel better soon." She assured. "Please. For me, okay?"

Anything for her.

He weakly nodded his head, causing a soft, satisfied smile to erupt through his lover's face.

"Good boy." She praised as she helped him sit up straight on his side of the bed. "You're my good boy."

A soft smile spread itself across his face, his eyes glistening at the compliment.

And for a moment, he believed it was all going to work out.

For only a brief moment.

. . .

Mal heaved herself on the couch with a soft plop, her phone still attached to her hand. A heavy sigh escaped her mouth while she adjusted her seating position and made herself comfortable.

Throwing her head back against the back of the couch, she stared at the bright ceiling with tearful eyes, and despite the light burning her sensitive eyelids, she continued to motionlessly stare at her surroundings, her mind empty and numb.

Her entire body was numb.

And heavy with despair and heartbreak.

For a moment, all she could think about was how terrible her life became.

All she could think about was how everything was okay before her brothers came up with the idea of murdering her.

And how Junwon was okay before he joined that group he was currently in.

She would take him on dates and have dinner together after a long day at her company. They would watch movies together and he would always fall asleep cuddled up to her on the couch. He would make lunch for her and wait for her until she came back from work, and not to mention that he would meet up with her and his friends and have the time of his life with her.

At that moment, Mal wished for everything to go back to normal. To how it once was.

But all she could think of, at that very second, was how she was on the verge of losing the love of her life, while she could do nothing to help him.

And seeing him hurt, unable to move and barely speaking, in whatever stage he was in, burned her insides with pain and heartbreak.

"I want my baby back." She unconsciously mouthed, staring at the ceiling with motionless eyes. Her phone vibrated between her grip, causing her to slowly raise her arm and glance at the screen with blurry eyes.

Santa is calling you...

Staring at the screen with mouth slightly parted open, she ignored the ache in her heart. The ache that told her how much she missed her friends. And the same ache that told her how much she was hoping for Junwon's return.

She sighed and heaved the phone back on the couch, this time letting it go from her grip. She then threw her head back on the couch and ignored the hot tears streaming down her face. Her vision blurred once again, followed by more tears of heartbreak that dared to escape her eyes.

For all she knew, she missed Junwon. With every inch of her heart.

Most importantly, she missed the person she once was.